ASEAN Ministerial Meeting opens in Hanoi

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said this year’s meeting, together with related meetings, is an important event on ASEAN annual calendar and for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year.

The PM noted that the meeting proceeds when ASEAN has entered into a new stage of development, moving towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and the operation on a legal basis of the ASEAN Charter. ASEAN is making every effort and mobilizing all resources to realize the objectives set in the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community and other important plans.

The Association is also striving to strengthen its external relations and deepen cooperation with its partners with a view to facilitating the realisation of the ASEAN Community and effectively responding to global challenges while maintaining the bloc’s central role in addressing regional issues, said Mr. Dung.

PM Dung agreed that the achievements recorded to date are enormous and of great significance. In particular, he said, the successful outcomes of the ASEAN Summit 16 have provided important guidelines and strong impetus for accelerating the ASEAN integration process while strengthening external relations and ensuring ASEAN’s centrality in the evolving regional architecture.

However, Mr. Dung stressed, we are fully aware that much remains to be done in order to realize the goal of an ASEAN Community, a community that is politically harmonious, economically integrated, and socially responsible.

Mr. Dung also emphasized the crucial role of ASEAN foreign ministers in the Association’s operations, especially in addressing issues relating to political-security cooperation and external relations. He put forward some issues that require more attention from ASEAN foreign ministers.

Firstly, achieving the goal of an ASEAN Community is the top priority for ASEAN now and in the years to come.

“We should set forth and carry out measures to speed up the implementation of the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community and other important programmes, including the Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity that is now being developed,” he said.

Secondly, maintaining peace and security in Southeast Asia and the Asia-pacific is the earnest desire and strong determination of all ASEAN member states as well as other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, he said, adding that ASEAN should further demonstrate its ability and role as a leading force for the promotion of dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the region

 “In the course of building the ASEAN Community, it is always our consistent policy to promote ASEAN’s external relations”, said PM Dung.

He suggested that ASEAN present itself as a responsible member of the international community in responding to current global challenges, especially the financial and economic crisis, climate change, sea-levels rising, natural disasters, pandemics, and depletion of natural resources.

Mr. Dung emphasised that strengthening the solidarity and unity, upholding traditional values and respecting the fundamental principles of the Association remain the factors of utmost importance, ensuring the success of ASEAN in the new era.

The Vietnamese PM also highlighted ASEAN’s role over the past 15 yeas and affirmed that the 43^rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting is held in Hanoi when Vietnam is celebrating its 15^th anniversary of joining the regional bloc. Vietnam is joining hands with other ASEAN members to create a firm foundation for the successful building of the ASEAN Community by 2015.

Mr. Dung said: “Vietnam is an indispensable part of the ASEAN family and makes active contributions to building a united and powerful ASEAN. As an ASEAN Chair, Vietnam is exerting every effort to cooperate with other members to step up the building of the ASEAN Community.

After the opening ceremony, ASEAN Foreign Ministers held a plenary session.

*** In the morning of the same day, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with Vietnam News Agency, organised a photo exhibition to spotlight Vietnam-ASEAN relations over the past 15 years.

On display are 65 photos focusing on the Vietnamese people and their land, as well as special images of nine other ASEAN member countries.

The exhibition is open at the My Dinh National Convention Centre from July 20-23. A similar event will also be held at the Hanoi Opera House on August 7 to mark the 15^th anniversary of Vietnam’s admission into ASEAN.